Croatia reached the semi-finals by overcoming Russia on penalties after a draining 2-2 draw over 120 minutes in Sochi.

It was the end of the road for the tournament hosts who had gone futrher than most people had expected.

An uneventful first half exploded into life when Denis Cheryshev scored another spectacular goal. But Russia’s advantage lasted for just eight minutes, with Mario Mandzukic setting up Andrej Kramaric for the equaliser.

Croatia dominated possession but could not make their superior quality count. Ivan Perisic went closest in the second half when his shot hit a post and flashed across the goalmouth.

In extra time, Russia tired for the first time in the tournament and Croatia took advanatge from a corner to take the lead and

Brazil-born Mario Fernandes, the last South American left in the tournament, dragged Russia back into the game with a late equaliser. But after Fyodor Smolov had fluffed his opening spot-kick, Fernandes blasted his shot wide to hand the initiative to Croatia, leaving Iave Rakitic to calmly convert the winning penalty.

GOAL! Wow! Cheryshev runs on to a perfectly weighted pass and bends a first-time shot with his left boot into the top corner of the net pic.twitter.com/gfcsLGBEtR

Denis Cheryshev finished as Russia’s top scorer in the tournament with four goals.

Talking point

With minutes of normal time remaining, Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic appeared to have injured a hamstring and looked set to be substituted. But he stayed on for extra time and saved Fyodor Smolov’s penalty in the shoot-out.

Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was Russia’s shoot-out hero after saving two penalties to knock out Spain and send the hosts through to the quarter-finals.

It was the biggest shock of the tournament, not least because Russia had started nervously and allowed Spain to take an early lead. But Spain then sat back, their passing lacked penetration and they handed Russia a lifeline when Gerard Pique handled at a corner shortly before half-time.

Russia had a gameplan to defend deeply against Spanish possession and the 2010 champions, who surprisingly started without Andres Iniesta, could not find a way to unlock the massed Russian defence.

Spain’s attacking substitutes, including Iniesta, gave them more edge in extra time but Russia held out for the shootout in front of the home crowd.

After edging out lesser opponents in Egypt and Saudi Arabia in their opening two games, Uruguay turned on the style to beat hosts Russia and top their group. It was a more attacked-minded performance from Uruguay, who were helped by the first-half sending-off of Igor Smolnikov.

According to the official figures, Russia covered 98km, compared to 118km and 115km in their first two games

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez made changes to his starting line-up, brining in a more attack-minded left-back in Doego Laxalt as well as midfielder Lucas Torreira, with Martin Caceres moving to right-back. Laxalt scored Uruguay’s second goal and was fouled by Igor Smolnikov for the Russian’s second yellow card.

Hosts Russia all but confirmed their place in the knockout stages after recording the best start by a home nation in the history of the tournament.

Emboldened by their 5-0 rout of Saudi Arabia in the opening match, Stanislav Cherchesov’s side came up against a far more organised team in Egypt and struggled to break them down in the first half.

But in a blistering quarter-hour spell at the start of the second half the hosts blow Egypt away with an assured, confident performance that delighted the home crowd in Saint Petersburg.

Egypt looked to talisman Mohamed Salah to bring them back into the game. Although he won and converted a late penalty, Salah was a shadow of the figure seen at Liverpool this season.

Matter of fact

Russia bettered the record of hosts Italy in 1934 by scoring eight goals and conceding one in their first two games (Italy beat USA 7-1 and drew with Spain 1-1).

Talking point

Mohamed Salah, having missed his side’s opening game while continuing his recovery from the shoulder injury suffered in the Champions League Final, started for Egypt. But he was below-par and clearly not yet fully fit.

Hosts Russia recorded the biggest win in a World Cup opening match since Italy in 1934 (7-1), thrashing Saudi Arabia in front of watching state president Vladmir Putin and FIFA dignatories.

Russia had failed to win in their previous seven warm-up games but any fears that the hosts would be embarrassed in front of a global TV audience were dispelled by an early goal as the Russians went on to capitalise on some shocking Saudi defending.

The Saudis, back in the World Cup for the first time since 2006, gifted their opponents too much space and respect in midfield – and Russia took full advantage.

Aleksandr Golovin provided two assists and scored a wonderful free-kick.

Talking point

Russia’s runaway victory was achieved despite losing their best player, Alan Dzagoev, to a hamstring injury midway through the first half. His replacement, Denis Cherysev, set up the hosts for their comprehensive victory with two well-taken goals.

Stats

Russia/Saudi Arabia

Possession (%): 40/60

Goal attempts: 13/7

Attempts on target: 7/0

Corners: 6/2

Fouls: 22/10

Pass accuracy (%): 78/86

Distance covered (km): 118/105

Russia World Cup Guide

With no qualifiers to play, hosts Russia have been desperately looking for sparring partners to prepare for the 2018 World Cup – even playing a friendly against club side Dynamo Moscow in September 2017. Things only became easier when the top European and South American teams had finished their qualifying campaigns, with Argentina coming to Moscow and Spain visiting Saint Petersburg in November, and friendlies against Brazil and France planned for March.

Stanislav Cherchesov is trying to build a new squad after his predecessor Leonid Slutsky’s unimpressive Euro 2016 outing. In the absence of top-quality players and the departure of a number of the old guard, Cherchesov has had to look increasingly at young talent, although such players are scarce and lack experience. Fans eagerly awaiting next summer’s tournament are more sceptical about the team’s chances than ever before. Qualifying from their group would be seen as a good result for the hosts.

Key Moments in Qualifying

Aug 2016
Cherchesov steps in to replace Slutskiy and the team draw 0-0 away to Turkey in his first game.Mar 2017
Russia score two second-half goals to come from behind and earn an impressive 3-3 draw with Belgium at the rebuilt Sochi Olympic Stadium.Jun 2017
The team fails to get out of its group at the Confederations Cup, losing 1-0 to Portugal and 2-1 to Mexico after beating New Zealand 2-0 in the opening game. Despite much speculation Cherchesov retains his job.Nov 2017
Russia concede a late goal from Sergio Aguero and lose 1-0 to Argentina at the reopening of Moscow’s Luzhniki Olympic Stadium, which will host the opening game and the World Cup Final next summer.

Russia World Cup Fixtures

As hosts Russia will kick off the tournament against Saudi Arabia on the 14th of June. Five days later they will play the Mohamed Salah led Egypt, before ending their group stage with a match against Uruguay on the 25th of June.

Stanislav Cherchesov, age 54 (02.09.63)
Appointed in August 2016 on a two-year contract, the former USSR and Russia goalkeeper with 49 caps is a four-time winner of the national championship. He was a key figure for Spartak Moscow in their 1995 Champions League campaign, when they won all six group-stage games, and later won three league titles in Austria with Tirol Innsbruck before ending his playing career back at Spartak. After coaching in Austria he joined Spartak and later worked with Moscow sides Spartak and Dynamo before moving to Poland in 2015 and leading Legia Warsaw to the double.

Under Pressure; Russia coach Cherchesov needs to get results in 2018 (Getty Images)

The PlayersStarsIgor Akinfeev remains the first-choice keeper and has proved his top-drawer credentials on numerous occasions. Although prone to injuries, versatile box-to-box midfielder Alan Dzagoev is also key.Stalwart
Akinfeev has more than 100 caps to his name and is closing in on Sergei Ignashevich’s national record of 120 appearances.Missing
Ignashevich, along with Vasili and Alexei Berezutskiy, quit international football and their absence is a major headache for the coach who has had to totally replace his back three.Debuts
Born in Russia, Konstantin Rausch emigrated to Germany as a boy but after caps at under-21 level for his adopted homeland the winger opted to play for Russia. Another newcomer is centre-back Georgiy Dzhikiya.

Russia World Cup Injuries

Zenit St Petersburg forward Aleksandr Kokorin could miss the tournament after rupturing ligaments in his knee.

Centre-back Georgi Dzhikiya has suffered a serious knee injury and could be out of the tournament.

Viktor Vasin could also miss the tournament after suffering a serious knee injury.

Alan Dzagoev has injured what looks to be his hamstring and could miss the rest of the tournament.

Key Star: Akinfeev will be the key man for Russia (Getty Images)

The Unanswered Questions

Can the new defence cope?
Victor Vasin, Fedor Kudryashov and Georgiy Dzhikiya have all been criticised for technical mistakes and poor positioning in recent games, but it looks as though Cherchesov sees them as his only defensive options for the World Cup.

Will Igor Akinfeev avoid mistakes in crucial games?
Although undoubtedly Russia’s best goalkeeper, he has made some costly errors at major tournaments such as the 2014 World Cup and 2017 Confederations Cup.

Could Andrei Arshavin be recalled?
No, despite being probably the only Russian player to achieve widespread international recognition in the last 15 years, the 36-year-old is now at Kairat in Kazakhstan. He failed to make the final World Cup squad.

Recall: Will Arshavin get recalled into the Russian squad for 2018? (Getty Images)

Will Igor Denisiov make a comeback?
As coach of Dynamo, Cherchesov had a run-in with the defensive midfielder which led to Denisov being banished to the reserves. Since becoming national coach, Cherchesov has not considered calling up Denisov, and this has continued as Denisov has failed to make the final squad.

Can the domestic league’s top strikers take their chances in top international games?
The Premier League’s top scorer in 2016 and 2017, Fedor Smolov of Krasnodar and Zenit’s Alexander Kokorin have not shone at international level. They were due to compete for the lone striker position or form an attacking duet but Kokorin is likely out of the tournament with a serious knee injury.